The Reason I Got Engaged to My Ex-Boyfriend - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 10

I didn’t want to become a villainous owner eavesdropping on employees’ conversations, but I found myself listening without realizing it.

“Anyway, since the opponent is our Owner, I’m not particularly worried.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll bet on our Owner winning everything for now.”

…What are those guys talking about. What am I supposed to win.

“By the way, what should we do from now on? It’s better not to talk about the child, right?”

Starting with Diana’s voice, tinged with worry, various comments followed.

It was already awkward seeing her after a year, and now there’s big trouble, and who’s the child’s father anyway…

Eventually, nonsense like ‘I’ll stage a rebellion to become emperor and execute that bastard who left our Owner alone like that’ started coming out.

I looked at the translucent window with incredulous eyes and pulled the door handle.

“Uh, anyway…”

As soon as I opened the door, I came face to face with Chris, who had been chattering away excitedly by himself.

“…”

Chris naturally closed his mouth.

The employees who spotted me one after another began slipping back to their original positions. I was trying to pretend I didn’t hear anything, but why is the atmosphere like this.

“Hey, you go handle it.”

Then the one who received the bomb passed from Chris was none other than Diana.

“…!”

Diana, suddenly pushed forward, approached me. There was a sweet strawberry scent, as if she had eaten candy from the counter.

Diana rubbed her thigh and attempted small talk.

“Ah, hello, Owner. It’s been a while. What did you do during your vacation?”

“Just breathed and lived. You?”

“Um, I was just at my family home. But, Owner. In the newspaper…”

“Speak.”

“…Never mind. Then… have a good day. Fighting today too.”

“Sure.”

It was a conversation like example sentences from a foreign language textbook.

Diana, having failed at meaningful small talk, moved away with an awkward expression.

Well, I could understand the employees being cautious around me.

‘Chris is a special case because of his good personality, but it’s natural for them to feel awkward when I came back with an illegitimate child after a year.’

I sat in a corner seat, savoring the feeling of being like a disease carrier.

As expected, today even more young ladies visited the boutique than yesterday.

They all pretended to consult with employees while glancing at me. Even a zoo lion walking on two legs wouldn’t receive this much attention.

“I heard the Westport returned yesterday, but why isn’t there any word?”

“Well, there must be big circumstances for them to close so urgently…”

This attention and these gazes aren’t unfamiliar. It’s been so long.

I smiled at the young ladies who were whispering and then startled when our eyes met.

Yes, look all you want. I am Mary Blin.

Right at that moment.

Ding- the door opened.

“It’s been a while, Young-ae.”

I inadvertently turned my head and froze in place.

‘That person is…’

The one who confidently walked toward me was someone I knew well.

Seria Chartinez.

Until I left the capital, she had been the Second Prince’s fiancée.

But after the former Crown Prince committed suicide, the Second Prince ascended to Crown Prince, and she rose in status along with him.

I heard she became the Crown Prince’s fiancée and has been living it up in high society…

“Yes, have you been well all this time?”

“Mm, I’ve been fine, but it seems Young-ae hasn’t been doing so well. Your sister too…”

I inwardly flinched at the mention of Sister Marie, but I replied calmly.

“In a way, that’s true.”

“Oh right, I heard you broke up? Well, it seemed like it would fall apart soon anyway. I’m quite perceptive, you know.”

Here she goes again. I looked at Seria with coldly indifferent eyes.

“That demon is the hostage the Colonel captured last time, isn’t it? You didn’t know even though he was your lover?”

“Well, I’ve been busy lately, so I might have missed it.”

“Hmm, is that possible?”

Since the Chartinez family was a naval family, Seria was particularly well-informed about Westport’s affairs.

And it was difficult for me to show that I was offended by Seria’s words. First of all, she was quasi-royalty and…

‘The Countess’s family is too weak.’

Our family had been one without great achievements since its founding.

Unlike typical nobles whose heads were interested in power through generations, Father and the family heads were unusual people who pursued harmonious families.

‘Well, like someone who got engaged to the Crown Prince, I was also the lover of Arviente’s heir.’

I didn’t want to hear that I was born into a humble family but made it in life by catching a good man.

And to young ladies who were only satisfied when they themselves shone brightest, someone like me was a thorn in their side.

“Oh my, Young-ae. You used to be so pitiful I couldn’t bear to look, but these days you look quite good.”

They mocked me for trying to act fine in front of Ransel.

‘So Ransel…’

I was thinking that far when I shook my head.

What’s the point of analyzing it now. We’ve already broken up.

Then, Seria asked in an artificial voice.

“But why did you come back? No, I’m just so curious. Don’t take it the wrong way.”

“Oh, really.”

At her words said while smirking to herself, I responded indifferently, sighing and brushing dust off my fan.

Is it because I broke up with Ransel? Now even obviously transparent behavior had less impact.

But the blatant words that followed touched my composure.

“I thought you left knowing your place…”

“…”

My hand fiddling with the fan paused.

Since Pipi is still the talk of the capital, I want to avoid unnecessary friction, but…

This isn’t a social gathering.

As soon as that thought occurred to me, I immediately opened my mouth.

“Actually, I went to look for a place to open a branch of the boutique.”

“…A branch?”

Seria frowned as if it was an unexpected answer.

“Yes, I heard there’s talk of laying railroad tracks in Ranghilden.”

“If that’s really true…”

As if it could be true. That place has more dried fish than people, it’s such countryside.

Not knowing I was thinking such thoughts, Seria asked carefully.

“Where did you hear that?”

“Mm, well, from my closest aide?”

There was no one better than Chris Moore for making excuses about such implausible matters.

Chris, surprised that his name was suddenly mentioned, quickly raised his head.

As he moved his lips trying to say something, I deployed one of my specialties – speaking with my eyes. Deal with it.

“Oh my, I had no idea…”

Seria brightened her expression. Hmm, my acting skills are definitely better.

I was about to nod naturally when another strategy suddenly came to mind.

I widened my eyes as if flustered.

“You’re not interested in Ranghilden, are you, Young-ae? I’m preparing to open a branch there in earnest.”

“What? Oh, of course. I have absolutely no interest in such things.”

Seria chuckled, and she really seemed to have no intention of spreading this story.

Well, she’d have to buy up all that land herself before my branch opens.

Having obtained such a satisfying harvest, Seria turned around.

“I’ll be going now. I just stopped by while passing through…”

Her fingers were packed with rings as she waved. If there was anyone sad about having only ten fingers, it would be her.

As soon as Seria disappeared, Chris approached with a grin. He seemed to have finally caught on to my intention.

“You truly are an excellent opportunist. I sometimes imagine how I would have survived this harsh world if I weren’t on your side, Owner.”

“If you know that, then do well.”

“Yes.”

Chris nodded earnestly.

‘I’ll put the Marquis family’s gold bars to good use as our aunt’s retirement fund.’

It seemed like it could serve as repayment for staying at the villa for a year.

I watched Seria’s retreating figure through the translucent window.

***

As soon as Seria left Boutique Street, she called for her butler.

The instructions were simple.

Buy up the land in Ranghilden immediately. Price doesn’t matter. Don’t investigate whether the information is accurate since we can’t have anyone else getting interested.

After the rapid-fire instructions, the butler cautiously asked.

“Um, are you certain? That village has virtually no floating population…”

“I’m telling you it’s a sure thing. I heard it clearly myself.”

Seria glared sharply at the butler. Don’t you trust what I’m saying?

“…Understood.”

Only after the butler reluctantly nodded did Seria smile with satisfaction.

‘I should get into business too while I’m at it.’

Mary Blin.

Just the daughter of a ruined family – what’s so great about getting lucky and succeeding?

It was all just luck anyway. Piacce Lux’s success, dating the heir of a prestigious family.

Despite that, her arrogant attitude was disgusting to watch. If she was going to leave, she should have stayed gone forever – why come back?

‘It’ll be worth seeing her expression when someone else’s boutique opens in the place she had her eye on.’

Right, let’s open a boutique there before Mary does.

As Seria was making this resolution and feeling smug, a maid came running to her.

“Young-ae, His Highness the Crown Prince is looking for you.”

“…”

Instantly, Seria’s gaze sharpened.

Anxiety made her bite down hard on her lower lip.

‘Nothing went wrong, right?’

Surely not.

It had already been nearly half a year since Former Crown Prince Kael’s death was concluded as suicide.

There was no way the results would change now.

“I’ll enter the palace immediately.”

Seria climbed into the carriage.

Gone was her smugness about ruining Mary’s plans – deep wrinkles formed on her brow.

“…Ha.”

Seria, who had been constantly biting her lower lip, irritably pulled off and threw away her opera gloves.

On her wrist. A star-shaped raised scar was revealed – something rarely seen on a well-bred young lady.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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